National Art Exhibition - February 2 – March 20, 2018

11th Biennial National Art Exhibition

Held in Historic Punta Gorda, FL - February 2 – March 20, 2018

Sponsored by the Mary Ellen Byrd Legacy for the Arts

Best of Show: $2,000 - Total Prize Money Over $7,000

2018 NAE At A Glance

Entry into the 2018 NAE will begin June 12, 2017 and continue through midnight on December 10, 2017. All entries must be entered digitally via Juried Art Services (JAS) at www.juriedartservices.com. Use of JAS is free for applicants. JAS provides a comprehensive “help” menu as well as telephone and email support. Artist notification will be made by email in late December. If accepted into the 2018 NAE, you will receive further instructions by email regarding receiving and other important information.

January 26, 27 & 29: Receiving for shipped and hand-delivered work from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Visual Arts Center

February 2: Exhibit opens to the public

February 8: Awards Reception at the Visual Arts Center

March 20: Last day of Exhibit

March 21 & 22: Pick up hand-delivered work from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Visual Arts Center; return shipping begins.

Awards

The works selected for the show will be determined on the basis of digital images. Awards are based upon actual artwork.

Best of Show: $2,000Second Prize: $1,000Third Prize: $750Bowles Award for Portrait Excellence: $750 (Eligibility for the Bowles Award is limited to paintings, drawings and pastels)People’s Choice Award: $1 per vote (50/50 split between Visual Arts Center and winning artist)Additional monetary awards for excellence and merit will be given at the discretion of the judge. Total prize money will be in excess of $7,000.

Juror Steven J. Levin at work on "Peonies and Butterfly"

Juror Steven J. Levin

Steven J. Levin is a classically trained oil painter working in the realist tradition. He is associated with the group of artists known as Classical Realists who trace their artistic lineage back to the Boston School of painters working at the turn of the 20th century. Mr. Levin’s work displays a thorough understanding of light and form, a deep reverence for beauty, and a decided respect for the works of the Old Masters. Mr. Levin cites the works of Edward Hopper and Jan Vermeer as his main artistic influences. His evocative works offer a unique interpretation of traditional and contemporary themes.

Mr. Levin has been an Art Renewal Center (ARC) recognized living master for over 15 years. He is the recipient of many national awards, including first place in the 2016 ARC Salon in the still life category. Mr. Levin has exhibited widely and has been featured in group shows in New York, Chicago, Beijing, and Barcelona. He has held numerous solo exhibitions at San Francisco’s John Pence Gallery, the premier realist gallery on the West Coast. He is also represented by Tree’s Place Gallery on Cape Cod.

Still Life Demo

Steven will give a still life demo February 1 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. In the demo, Steven will talk about his basic method and materials including palette, brushes, composition, etc. He will demonstrate his process of drawing, laying in and finishing a still life and generally discuss how he goes about translating the colors, forms and textures of nature into paint. Tickets are $30 for VAC members and $40 for non-members. Purchase your tickets for the demo at the Purchase Tickets page on our website, or call (941) 639-8810 for more information.

Juror’s Statement:

“I believe that, first and foremost, painting is a craft. It requires skills, knowledge, and ability. But painting is, of course, more than that. An artist takes those abilities and imbues them with personality and emotion in an attempt to capture an intangible thing that speaks in a language unavailable to any other mode of expression.”